Retractable knob device



Aug. 13, 1963 w. T. BoEDm-:Kl-:R ETAL 3,100,404

RETRACTABLE KNOB DEVICE Filed July l5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 13, 1963 w. T. BOEDDEKER ETAL.

3,100,404 RETRACTABLE KNOB DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet A2 Filed July 13, 1961 fia 3,193,494 RETRACTAELE KNII DEVICE William T. Boeddeker, Cincinnati, and Harold L. Frick, Hamiiton, Ohio, assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Deiatvare .lniy 13, 1961, Ser. No. 123,6@ 7 Claims. (Cl. 741-553) This invention relates to control devices and in particular to retractable knobs for use in controlling devices such as rotatable operable switches.

In certain apparatus, such as electric range apparatus, it is desirable to provide a manually operable control means which is selectively disposable in an extended operative position and in a retracted inoperative position. In the retracted position, the control knob is preferably arranged to be flush with the forward surface of a Wall member. In such structure, it is desirable'to provide means for facilitated selective disposition of the control knob in the retracted and extended arrangements and to assure the arrangement of the control knob in a preselected rotational position, such as corresponding to the off condition of the associated switch, when the control knob is in the retracted position. The present invention comprehends a new and improved structure providing these desiderata in a simple and economical manner.

Thus, a principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved retractable device for selectively operating a rotatable member.

Another feature of the invention is the provisionV of such a device having new and improved means for selectively retaining a manually operable knob thereof in operative and inoperative positions.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a device providing facilitated adjustment of the` knob to the selected position.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a device having new and improved means for assuring the arrangement of the associated control in a preselected condition when the knob is in the retracted position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a retractable control device embodying the invention, illustrated as mounted in a portion of an apparatus such as ya range apparatus and connected to a control switch thereof;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the arrangement of the catch and spring clip means of theretractable device in the retracted position thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view similar to that of FIG. 3 but illustrating the arrangement of the catch and spring clip as during a release ofthe device to the extended position;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation thereof with portions broken away to illustrate more clearly the means for assuring the disposition of the switch in a preselected arrangement when the device is in the retracted position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation, partially in section, of another form of retractable device embodying the invention;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 7 7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the arrangement of the catch and spring clip means thereof in the retracted position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view generally similar to that of FIG. 8 but illustrating the arrangement of the catch and spring clip as during a release of the device to the extended position; and

wd Patented Aug. 13, 1963 "ice FIG. l0 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line lit- '10 of FIG. 6.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in lFIGS. 1-5 of the drawing, a retractable control device generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a connector shaft 1i-1 fixedly secured as by a suitable set screw 13, to the operating shaft 12 of a rotatable element, herein a rotatably operable control switch 14. In illustrating the invention, the switch ,.14 is shownto comprise a portion of a range apparatus (not shown) have a front wall =15 and an associated rearwardly spaced wall 16 through which the switch shaft 12 forwardly extends. The front wall 15 is provided with a circular opening 17 land control device '10 is coaxially yaligned therewith to extend forwardly from rear wall |16 and through the opening in its extended arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The control device .10 further includes a control knob 18 having a hexagonally sectioned rearwardly opening bore :19 slidably receiving ia complementary'hexagon-ally sectioned forward portion 20 of the shaft .11 for non-rotative axially movable connection of the knob to the shaft. The hexagonally sectioned forward portion 20 includes rounded portions 20a to allow an air break between the hexagonally sectioned rearwardly opening bore19 and the forward portion 20' of the shaft -1\1. Opening coaxially forwardly in shaft portion 2l'is a cylindrical bore 21 in which is seated the rear end 22 of a helical compression spring 23 having-its outer end 24 seated in the bore 19 of knob 18 whereby the knob is biased forwardly at all times. The for-Ward movement of the knob 18 is limited by the engagement of a slide ring 25 secured to the control knob to have slidable facial engagement with the annular rearwardly facing surface portion 26 of the ,wall 1'5 defining the opening 17. An annular index bezel .27 is secured to the forwardly facing surface portion 28 of wall |15 surrounding opening 17 for cooperation with suitable indicating means (not shown) on the knob to indicate to the operator the rotational position of the knob. n

Thus, as shown in FIGS; l and 2, in the extended arrangement of control device 10, the knob 1'8 extends substantially forwardly through fthe -wall openingv 17 permitting Kfacilitated manipulation thereof to rotate t-he t control switch shaft 12 selectively as desired. Control device y10 further includes means 30 for retaining` the knob 18 in a retracted position wherein the forward surface 29 of the knob 18 is substantially ush with the wall 15. As :best seen in FIGS. 1-4, mhe retaining means 30 includes a catch 31 carried by the knoby 18 and a co-operating spring clip 32 secured to the rear wall 16 by suitable means such as screw and nut means '33'.- Catch 31 comprises a post having a shank 34 Viixedly secured to knob 18 to extend rearwardly thereform parallel to the axis of shaft 411 and terminating rearwardly inV an enlarged end 3S defining a forwardly facing annular radial shoulder 36. Spring clip 32 comprises a bifurcated clip having a pair of forwardly extending legs 37 each formed at the inner end 38 thereof to define a rearwardly facing shoulder 39 and a forwardly angled gui-de portion 40. As best seen in FIG. 3, the spacing between leg ends 38 is normally less than lthe diameter of the catch end 35; Thus, when the knob 18 is moved rearwardly from the position of FIG. l to the position of FIG. 3 the catch end 35 bears against the guides 40 to spread the legs 37 sufliciently apart to permit the catch end `35 to pass rearwardly between the leg ends 38, whereupon the legs 37 spring together and dispose the shoulders 39 in the path of outward movement of catch end 35 thereby positively latching the kno-b in the retracted position.

To permit release of the knob 18 from the retracted Y I the'interference of the stop 444 therewith.

. Y a position when desired, a release member i1k is :provided The release member comprises an annular member concentrically mounted on the `shank 34 of catch31 for axial "movement thereon. JA conicalV spring 42 is jconcentrically mounted on the shank 34 to extend between`V device 1t)V but having modified means for retaining the.

. cally, control device 11d includes a connector shaft 111 ixedly secured to a split-ended operatingshaft 112 of the catch end 431 andthe release member 41 in a rear- FIG. 4, when the knob is .depressed further rearwardly to force the Vrelease member 41 Ifurther rearwardly, the aotionlof theY release member end 43 against the guides 40 causes the clip legs 37 to spread sufficiently apart to `permit the krearward end of the release member to pass therebetween Yand be grippedthereby as shown in FIG.-` V4. Thereafter, when the control knob 1d is released, permitting the spring 23 to urge the control knob forwardly and car-ry. With it the catch 31, the catch moves. forwardly independently Vof the releas'e member until the shoulder r36of the catch abuts the rearward end 43 of the release member whereupon further forward movement 'of the knob 18 and catch 31 causes the release member toV move with the catch forwardly betweenV the clip leg ends 38. As nospace remains between the catch shoulder 36 andthe release member end 43, the clipends 318 are prevented from ie-enga'ging the catch shoulder 36 where; by theknob 18 may tion of FIG, 1.1. .1 Y' v As discussed briey above, it desirable to assure an arrangement .of control switch 14 in an oit position'wheneverthe control knob is disposed in' the retracted position.' For this purpose, anelongated stop 44 is Vsecured to the front wall 15 to extend rearwardly :therefrom parallel tothe axis of shaft 'llrsubjacent theV path of movement `ofknob 18. The slider-ing -is provided with r'afradially outwardly opening notch 45 which is aligned Withfthestop `44 when theV knob 1S is r'otated'to `a, position, as shown in FIG. 5, whereinthe control switch 14 is in a preselected position, ytherein-the oi position'.l The notch is made slightlyV largerthan the iguide'so Vthat the jknob 18 maybefmoved` 'freely rear# wardly atfthis time by virtue of the clearance between .the stop and theslidefring` in the notch. However; for all other rotational positions of the knob inthe extended position ofV F1651; the peripheral Aedge of the slide Aring prevents rearward movement'of theknob by virtue of Thus, in utilizing fthe controldevice 10, the operator may rotate thefknob'l, Vand'therefore Vthe switch 14, as

desired with the knob inthe extended position of FIG. 1.. When it is :desired tol dispose the knob in a retracted position, the operator. must Ytrst turn the 'knob 18 to r the Vposition wherein the switchV 14 is in the preselected, or volf, position, thereby aligning the notch 45 with the stop 44. :The operatorthen merely presses `the knob rea-r-V ,wardly'until fthe catch end 3:5 moves lpast fthe'clip' ends y now permits the catch end Vtojmove intoY abutment .with the rearward surface of the release member whereupon furtherV forward movement of the knob permits Ithe catch to move forwardly of the clip as `the ends 38 ofV 3()V move .freely to the extended posi#V control switchr114 secured to the rear wall 116. A coil spring 123 biases the control knob 11S forwardly through the Vopening 117 in the forward wall115. The means for assuring'the arrangement of :the controlswitch in the o positionivhenv the knob 11S is 4retracted includes a T- shaped stop 144 depending. from ajhorizontal wall 15b` extending between the walls 115 and 116, superjacent the shaft 111. The slide ring 125 secured to knob 118 is provided withk a suitable notch 145 for co-operation with the stop144. Y.

In control device 110, the clip 132 Vis secured to the knob 11S by screw Vmeans 133 to have the legs 137 thereof extend-'rearwardly for Vco-op-eration with the catch 131 vcarried by* the 4rear wall 116 to extendforwardly therefrom. The release member 141 is coaxially movable on the catch shank V134 between the rear wall 116 and the enlarged forwardfend 131 of the catch. No conical spring is required forlbiasing Ithe release member 141, as is required incontrol device 1d or` biasing the release member 41. Rather, as shown'in FIGS. 8 and 9, the spring clipin moving to the rearward position assumed when the knob isin the retracted position pushes the release member 141 rearwardly into :abutment with therear wall 116. `When lthe knob V118'is further depressed, as Vshown in FIG 9, the clip ends 133 climb onto the release member which is then being held by the rear Wall y116, whereupon release of the knob 118 allows the release member to move with the clip Yends'forwardly until itabuts the catch forward end 131. Further forward movement of the knob 11S 'then causes the Vclip ends toy move forwardly away from the catch. Forirnproved positive clearance of the f ciip ends with the catchend -llrduring this forward move-` Y ment of the clip, the release member 141 may be' provided with aV forwardly Vopening annular recess 151 receiving a substantial portion of the catch end 131 when the release member is Vin its forwardmost position as shown in FiG. l. Thus,rthe controldevice 11@ lfunctions generally sim-V ilarly tothe control device Y1i?, the release means 130 theregenerally similarly to control device 10.

Having described our invention as related to the embodiments shown'in the accompanying drawings, it is our intention that the invention be' not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but

.Y rather. be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

, K l. A retractable device `for selectively rotating a rotatablemember comprising: la connector shaft; means for securing said shaft to said rotatable member; a knob;

` means yconnecting said shaft and knob for non-rotative,

axial movement therebetween; means urging said knob axiallyftoan extended position; means for releasably sei .curing said knob in an axially retracted position; and means effectively covering said securing means as a result of movement of said knob to a release position beyond said retracted position and permitting movement of' said knob by said urging means from said release position to ,said extended position. 1

2. A retractable dev-ice'for selectivelyrotating a ro.- tatable member, comprising: a connector shaft; means fornsecuring said shaft tosaid rotatable member; a knob;

the clip are precluded from engaging the catch shoulderV means connecting said shaft and knob for non-rotative, axial movement'therebetweengmeans urging the knob axially forwardly to an extended position; a rst device having an inner shank andan inwardly facing Vradial shoulder; a second device havinga shoulder; means' securing one of said devices to said knob for movement ranged to permit the shoulder of said second device to move into facial engagement with said first device shoulder vin said retracted position and thereby hold the knob against forward movement; and a release member engageable with said cam means arranged to move said second device shoulder laterally to clear said rst device shoulder as a result of movement of said knob axially rearwardly beyond said retracted position and to retain said second device shoulder laterally displaced until said knob is disposed forwardly of said retracted position.

3. A retractable device for selectively rotating a rotatable member, comprising: a connector shaft; means for fixedly securing said shaft to said rotatable member; a knob; means connecting said shaft and knob for nonrotative, axial movement therebetween; means urging said knob axially forwardly to an extended position; a catch device having an inner shank and an inwardly facing radial shoulder; a spring clip device having a shoulder; means securing one of said devices yto said knob for movement therewith; means xedly holding the vother of said devices with the shoulder thereof in the path of movement of the shoulder of said one device; cam means associated with said spring clip device for guiding the shoulder thereof to laterally of the catch device shoulder as said knob is moved to an axially rearward retracted position, and arranged to permit the shoulder of said spring clip device to move into facial engagement with said catch device shoulder in said retracted position and thereby hold the knob against forward movement; and a release member engageable with said cam means arranged to move the spring clip shoulder .laterally to clear said catch device shoulder as a result of movement of said knob axially rearwardly beyond said retracted position and to retain said spring clip shoulder laterally displaced until said knob is disposed forwardly of said retracted position; and means permitting movement of the knob axially from said ex-` tended position to said retracted position only when said knob is in a preselected position of rotation aboutthe axis thereof.

4. A retractable device for selectively rotating a rotatable member, comprising: a connector shaft; means for tixedly securing said shaft to the rotatable member; a knob; means connecting said shaft and knob for nonrotative, axial movement therebetween; means urging the kno'b axially rforwardly to an extended position; a catch device having an inner shank and an enlarged outer end dening an inwardly facing radial shoulder; a spring clip device having a shoulder; means securing one of said devices to said knob for movement therewith; means xedly holding the other of said devices with the shoulder thereof in the path of movement of the shoulder of said one device; cam means associated with the spring clip device for guiding the shoulder thereof to laterally of the catch device shoulder as said knob is moved to an axially rearward, retracted lposition, and arranged to permit the shoulder of said spring clip device to move into facial engagement with said catch device shoulder in said retracted position and thereby hold the knob against forward movement; and an annular release member axially movable on said shank and engageable with said cam means to move the spring clip shoulder laterally to clear said catch device shoulder asa result of movement of said knob axially rearwardly beyond said retracted position and movable forwardly with 4said cam means to retain said springv clip shoulder laterally displaced until said knob is disposed forwardly of said retracted position.

5. A retractable device for vselectively rotating a rotatable member, comprising: a connector shaft; means for iixedly securing said shaft to the rotatable member; a knob; means connecting said shaft Aand knob for nonrotative, axial movement therebetween; means urging the knob axially forwardly toan extended position; a catch having a shank portion extending rearwardly from the knob for movement therewith, and ya rear portion defining a forwardly facing shoulder; a spring clip having a rear- Wardly facing shoulder `disposed in the path of movement of the catch shoulder for facial engagement therebetween when the knob is in the retracted position, said clip further having a camming portion extending forwardly of the clip shoulder engageable by the rear portion of the catch to translate said clip shoulder transversely and permit movement of said catch shoulder to rearwardly of the clip shoulder; and a release member longitudinally movable on said shank and having a forward port-ion selectively abutting said knob and a rear portion selectively movable against said camming portion to space said camming portion out yof the path of movement of said catch shoulder; and means lbiasing the release member forwardly away from said catch shou-lder, said spring clip including a portion slidably engaging the release member to retain the release member in a rearward position against the action of said biasing means and permitting said knob urging means to cause movement of the catch rear portion in abutment with said release member rear portion forwardly past said clip shoulder.

6. A retractable device for selectively rotating a rotatable member, comprising: a connector shaft; means for fixed-ly securing said shaft to the rotatable member, a knob; means connecting said shaft and knob for nond rotative, axial movement therebetween; means urging the knob axially forwardly to an extended position; a catch having a shank portion extending parallel to and adjacent said shaft and a forward portion defining a rearwardly facing shoulder; a spring clip extending rearwardly from the knob for movement therewith and having a forwardly facing shoulder movable into facial engagement with the catch -shoulder when .the knob is in the retracted position, said clip further having a camming portion extending rearwardly of said clip shoulder engageable by the forward portion of said catch to translate the clip shoulder transversely and permit movement of said catch shoulder to forwardly of said clip shoulder; and a release member longitudinally movable on said shank selectively guiding said camming portion to space said camming portion laterally of said fcatch shoulder said spring clip including a. portion engaging said release member to move said release member in a .forward direction with said knob and holding said spring clip shoulder in the translated position to clear said catch shoulder.

7. The device of claim. 1 wherein said securing means includes a support having a catch shoulder and said covering means comprises an element movably carried on said support for selectively covering said shoulder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A RETRACTABLE DEVICE FOR SELECTIVELY ROTATING A ROTATABLE MEMBER COMPRISING: A CONNECTOR SHAFT; MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SHAFT TO SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER; A KNOB; MEANS CONNECTING SAID SHAFT AND KNOB FOR NON-ROTATIVE, AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN; MEANS URGING SAID KNOB AXIALLY TO AN EXTENDED POSITION; MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID KNOB IN AN AXIALLY RETRACTED POSITION; AND MEANS EFFECTIVELY COVERING SAID SECURING MEANS AS A RESULT OF MOVEMENT OF SAID KNOB TO A RELEASE POSITION BEYOND SAID RETRACTED POSITION AND PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF SAID KNOB BY SAID URGING MEANS FROM SAID RELEASE POSITION TO SAID EXTENDED POSITION. 